Freedom from Democracy: Is it Time for Duterte to Abolish Congress?

Democracy stands for freedom. So essentially, “freedom from democracy” entails liberation from the clutches of freedom. Now why has freedom become fetters that keep the Philippines a struggling third-rate dirt-poor country amidst economic tigers in the region? Well democracy is actually a double-edged sword. While it gives us the benefit of that cool ecstatic feeling of liberation and independence which our forefathers have struggled and fought for, it carries with it a huge responsibility, one which Filipinos have proven themselves to be incapable of handling.

Democracy (which the West has painted to be the be all and end all) has failed us. The fact that there is no publicly available train ride to the city center the moment you step out of the airport lobby is sufficient proof democracy in this country does not work to our advantage! Democracy only works for mature advanced societies. It is not a one-size-fits-all solution. You need to match it with the stage of evolution a given people are at. For a people who are in many ways a century behind in terms of basic common sense and moral fortitude, sad to say – Filipinos are simply not ready.

Now it may be just a matter of time that Duterte will reach the end of his tether and take Option B: set up a revolutionary government. Signs were very telling at the onset of his presidency that he was looking into the speedy option of overthrowing the current corrupt system to effect lasting change. He went all over the country visiting military detachments and seeking to win the hearts of our men-in-uniform first. The PNP and AFP are his tools to bringing about many bleeding-heart freedom-loving Filipinos’ worst nightmare: rapid change through a totally new government. Note: Whoever gains the trust of the armed forces can practically do anything – even abolish Congress and the Supreme Court if he so wishes.

In the name of checks and balances, the current system is simply rigged and designed to hamper rapid progress. Just look at how the appointment of the efficient and effective head of DSWD was rejected by the CA. How can a country advance when we have power- and wealth-hungry politicians placing hurdles left and right? Congress’ recent rejection of erstwhile DSWD secretary Judy Taguiwalo rings out as “strike three!” on this corrupt body’s confidence on the president’s ability to make wise choices. At this point, Duterte can simply turn the tables around and strike Congress out!

Alternatives to Liberal Democracy

Now that we know that the current brand of democracy is detrimental to Filipinos, what should we do? An alternative solution is not difficult to find (from Wiki)…

A benevolent dictatorship is a theoretical form of government in which an authoritarian leader exercises absolute political power over the state but does so for the benefit of the population as a whole. A benevolent dictator may allow for some economic liberalization or democratic decision-making to exist, such as through public referenda or elected representatives with limited power, and often makes preparations for a transition to genuine democracy during or after their term. It might be seen as a republican form of enlightened despotism.

Lee Kuan Yew (Singapore) was one of these so-called benevolent dictators.

Lee Kuan Yew: Known to be the man who transformed Singapore from a poor agrarian society into one of Asia’s wealthiest nations, Lee Kuan Yew is often called a ‘benevolent dictator.’ As a leader who was in power for thirty-one years from 1959 until 1990, he implemented some laws that were deemed to be autocratic, and attempted to dismantle political opposition. Despite this, he is often looked upon favorably for his transformation of Singapore, and is considered by many to be one of the most successful political pragmatists.

Too scared of another Marcos? Now, power doesn’t have to rest on just a single person, it can be vested upon a core body of leaders through one party.

A One-Party System

Choice is great. The fact that small insignificant members of society each have a hand at picking the next president or representatives in Congress sounds really cool. But we need to bite the bullet and accept the fact that this is not for us. Ordinary Filipinos can have the freedom to choose among which flavor of ice cream to buy, but not on deciding on something as important as a president. Filipinos are not known to choose the best for themselves (just look at where they spend their savings on). We should leave these kinds of critical choices to experts.

The reason behind China’s meteoric rise to becoming the second largest economic behemoth in the world is for this very reason. Decision making has been confined to a core like-minded leadership with virtually zero external opposition. If they wanted to set up a trans-China bullet train or a space program which had a roadmap lasting 50 years into the future, the single party could give the stability and assurance to see it through irrespective of the specific personality at the helm.

That’s in stark contrast to how Filipinos are handling mega-projects: one president of a given ruling party starts a mega-project only to be mothballed midway by the succeeding president whose party has a different priority or interest. No wonder we see low-quality half-finished roads all around with not even proper sidewalks and drainage.

What the Philippines Needs More is Vision, not Democracy

The freedom enshrined in democracy is also closely associated with chaos. Just look at the traffic in Metro Manila, how jeepneys and buses criss-cross lanes and load/unload in the middle of busy intersections. Is this the type of society and system we want for our children to inherit? We are now gripped by narco-politics. If you remove the pork barrel system in Congress, guess what. They will only look for something else even more hideous to bankroll their reelection.

In contrast, vision brings about focus and precision planning. The problem with the Philippines is the lack of a stable leadership core that can set up a vision and align all the country’s resources and parameters toward that goal (family size vis-a-vis income, human settlement, internet bandwidth, mineral exploration, urban planning, and what not). Duterte is at the height of empowerment to be able to set up this one-party system in the Philippines, given the enormous public support and political capital he now wields.

For the first time in many decades, we have a man whom the vast majority can rely on to be incorrupt and competent. He is the closest thing to the embodiment of a genuine benevolent dictator like Lee Kuan Yew who transformed Singapore. We are confident this man is not in it for the money, and that he has the best interest of the country in mind. Under Duterte is the Philippine’s one-in-a-million golden opportunity to take this leap away from the perpetually corrupt system we have today.

American-style democracy was given to Filipinos too early. Filipinos need to evolve further under the stewardship of a benevolent one-party governing body that has the mettle to see us through to become the next Singapore-like Zaxxun-class state. If the ruling body says “No squatters in Metro Manila! Everyone go back to your provinces!” – there will be no opposition, as the body knows it is for the best of our tourism-dependent country.

Why Companies are Not Run like Democracies

Ever wondered why the most successful companies in the world like Apple, Google, and Toyota do not ask their employees (from janitors to design engineers) to pick their next leader (CEO)? Normally, something like a core party at the very top makes that choice, because they are in the best position to make such a critical decision of choosing that man/woman who carries the company’s culture/DNA and has the proven potential to bring their organization to the next level.

The Philippines should be run like a corporation. Why are there no squatters in the premises of Ayala’s Malls? Because it’s easy for top management to simply order their security personnel to eject would be invaders – No questions asked. Top management knows that a slum-like image is bad for business, and will not care even if most of their employees think otherwise.

Who among us will argue that gigantic companies like Facebook, Ford, and Samsung are not faring well? Ask their employees if they’re happy not living under a corporate democracy. Results speak for themselves – you don’t need to operate under a democracy to be happy and successful. Filipinos should grow up and shed off that mindset of always trying to emulate their past colonial master.

The Parable of the Eagles and the Maya Birds

Three Philippine eagles lived among three hundred little Maya birds. The eagles said “Let one of us eagles lead the flock because we can soar up above the stratosphere even beyond the clouds and are able to see from a higher vantage point. We are in the best position to lead you all.” But the Maya birds said “Ah, we don’t think you best represent us; we need someone who knows and feels our needs.” Then there was a long debate over how to make the decision, until one bird said, “I heard there was this thing called democracy. Why don’t we put it up for a vote?”

So elections were held through secret balloting, and every winged creature in the flock held their breath to hear the pronouncement…

Well let’s just cut the story short there since we all know the outcome anyway. Now ask yourselves, do Filipinos need democracy?

print

About zaxx

Zealous revolutionary advocate of bringing back common sense for the common good in a land of dysfunctional and delusional zombies.

We, Filipinos, don’t understand how “Democracy” works. The American colonizers, after they bought us from Spain in the Treaty of Paris; forced this form of government, down to our throats. It worked for them, maybe, but not for us… Democracy for us is: “Buy the People; Fool the People and Off the People”… The Culture of Political Padrinos; the Culture of Corruption; and the Culture of Cheating in Elections are the RoadBlocks to finding True Leaders, in our country… Feudalism is still with us; the Oligarchy dictates, who will be in power, to protect their vested interests. Look at the… Read more »

Because of the value placed on individual materialistic success in our society, we are surrounded by people primarily interested in getting something from others. Their attitudes are characterised by selfishness and a lack of empathy for others.

Zaxx Trump tried to run USA with a corporate/business government. So far, it doesnt work. And it will never work. Kim Jung un tries to run North Korea like a dictator. Does it work? No. Stop looking and comparing with Singapore. Look instead to countries like Norway or Sweden or Denmark. Or do you prefer Venezuela more? I dont think the Philippines ever enjoyed full freedom. If you want progress, you need progressive people in government but also on the ground (the Jane Do’s and the John Do’s). But everything feels, senses and speaks against freedom (and against progress) in… Read more »

SO, a mere 14 months after taking office, Duterte: Has proved he is FULL OF SHIT because he has NOR handed out 7,500 MEDALS he said he would give his fellow countrymen for KILLING ‘ALLEGED’ Druggies, he has declared Martial Law in Southern Mindanao and now ZAXX here is suggestting that Duterte abolish the Ciongress, AND WHAT ? Become a DICTATOR ? Well, YOU ASKED FOR IT ND YOU WILL SOON GET, BEND OVER COZ HERE IT COMES…. MARCOS 2.0 !!

@Robert Ever heard or read about “Dutertenomics”(a;ready posted here in GRP)? That’s one of his goals while in his term as well as the agricultural plan. Too bad it was overtaken by “speak by the barrel of a rifle/gun” as you proclaimed thanks to biased media.

Since when did I ever said that those bodies in the streets are “Fake news” or “alternative facts”? what I’m trying to say is that you are claiming that Duterte is nothing more but a violent individual while unaware or ignoring that he’s also doing something good in the country like the examples I’ve given, aside of that Abaya who is cahoots with Aquino and giving a mess on LRT or MRT maintenance was replaced by somebody else since Duterte’s presidency and noticed that there’s some progress on LRT or MRT’s maintenance like elevators or escalators that was long broken… Read more »

Ronald: Duterte himself admitted that he knows nothing about economics. It shows. Joe Blow is quite correct. It’s Marcos 2.0, and Filipinos are too ignorant and lazy to draw the right conclusions. The “biased media” is reporting, quite accurately, the various scams and acts of economic sabotage being perpetrated by the government. These scams are so big they have to be hidden in plain sight: the government knows the people are so used to lying and cheating each other they have trouble distinguishing truth from fiction anymore. It’s all happening using the EXACT SAME METHOD that Marcos used. It goes… Read more »

Just think how much fun you here at GRP will have when FREEDOM OF THE PRESS no longer exists, ‘DUE PROCESS’ is already gone, and when you are being thrown in jail for publishing an article that Big ‘D’ doesn’t like….JUST REMEMBER :YOU ASKED FOR THIS !! SERIOUSLY, A BOX OF ROCKS IS SMARTER that the collective consciousness of the Filipino Nation. Duterte has had a hand in murdering nigh on 8,000 of your fellow citizens with out a TRIAL (just shoot ’em like dogs in the street!), POVERTY is still over 30% of the Filipino people living on $2/day… Read more »

Seriously, zaxx? I expected better from you. Honestly, the quality of the articles being posted lately has dropped through the floor. As I remarked to Benign0, I can’t help wondering if there’s a reason for this. A highly compelling reason, as it were. Do you honestly think that ANY Filipino – never mind Duterte and his cabinet – has the intelligence, vision, and ability to run the Philippines like Singapore? I suppose there might be someone, somewhere, but he’s probably in jail. Or dead. In any case, as Robert said, it’s a foolish comparison. LKY himself said that he could… Read more »

As what the son of a past visionary leader has been saying: MERITOCRACY
And the power-grabbing “elites” dubbed the father a dictator just because the idea and the image serve their own interests to this day.

Instead of just ridding our beleaguered country of the muppet show known as our Congress, we should go all the way and start again – from top to bottom. Let’s face it, not one aspect of our political or judiciary system works. Sorry, I’ll rephrase that, not one aspect of it works for the vast majority of Filipinos. The despicable immoral crooks who make sure this system continues are having a whale of a time at the total expense of that majority. Mayor’s, vice mayors (vice anything), barangay captains – laughable – utter nonsense system designed only to give low… Read more »

Agree 100% with this one-party system. But, there is a danger in that way too. Filipino leaders are mostly greedy and unlike the corporate executives, they are not controlled by the entities owners who, one way another, can kick out any non-performing or abusive ones anytime. These exploitative Filipino leaders can at times join forces with one another especially in subjugating the poor, suppressing their rights and freedom, where these leaders can also lord over the military to work to their advantage, putting the entire nation under their full control. Unless every Filipino leader has reached the moral high ground… Read more »

I hope Philippines will be like North Korea IF we want to obey absolute leader of the Philippines in exchange of freedom and rights. We want to do adulation to absolute leader and strongmen if WE want to. We do NOT want foreign investors to come, consider them invaders or aliens.

Our government will be like that in China with unicameral legislaturewith authoritarian government BUT we would HAVE 120 seats of Assembly in abolition of congress, multi-party democracy and party list and senate.

looks like the yellows on its life cycle again to override the bautista case. why not just arrest those blocking for a change then declare ML the way marcos did and it’s quiet and peaceful that way people likes it.

Yes, we can live in fear so we can fear and respect the law as we can be afraid to break the law as we can be disciplined as Marcos ML is re-implemented. We can bring back KBL and New Society for national conservatism and conservative nationalism.

Politicians in the Philippines and their patrons the Oligarchs and the Criminals have mastered the art of using democracy to rape the Democratic process and screw the Filipinos from their rights to health, safe society, education and freedom to choose.